Franconia Museum

02/12/2021

Remote learning isn't new: Radio instruction in the 1937 polio epidemic

Thank you to our esteemed Fairfax County History Commissioner, Lynne Garvey-Hodge and Sydenstricker Schoolhouse for sharing this wonderful article. The more things change, the more things stay the same. We learn to be resourceful in difficult times. ❤

This isn't the first time America's schoolchildren have studied remotely – and Chicago's 1937 'radio school' experiment shows how technology can fill the gap during a crisis.

02/01/2021

The Franconia Museum celebrates 20 years! - https://mailchi.mp/208057417f6a/the-franconia-museum-celebrates-20-years

01/05/2021

The Franconia Museum sadly notes the passing of Jimmy Woodard, a member of our senior advisory board, who entered the hospital on December 18, 2020 for an aortic heart valve replacement but succumbed to other causes on December 23. Jimmy was the second paid fireman (1955) at Franconia Volunteer Fire Department, Woodie Smith being the first (1949). A lifetime member of the FVFD, Jimmy also served as numerous other stations in the county. In recent years, his knowledge of days gone by in Franconia has been a major resource as the Museum tries to get it history straight. An expanded memory of this remarkable man and community friend will appear in the 2021 museum newsletter. The Museum also plans a Memorial Program for Joe Alexander, Linn Welch and Jimmy Woodard when the Covid-19 pandemic subsides and we can personally gather to remember to remember them.

12/29/2020

Here is a stunning new look at the Lee District area in 1937 with thanks to our partners at Fairfax County GIS and White Clouds Media. Notice no highways exist yet and look at all the dairy farms.

12/23/2020

The Franconia Museum is currently looking for letter jackets from Hayfield, Lee, Mount Vernon, Edison and Annandale. If you, or someone you know, have one and want to add it to our display, please let us know at [email protected]

12/17/2020

Franconia Museum

Please visit the Franconia Museum, at 6121 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310 on Dec 21-23, 2020, Monday through Wednesday from 10am to 2pm and 6pm to 8pm (extra Holiday hours) for some late Christmas shopping! Carl Sell, Nathaniel Lee and yours truly Don Hakenson will be available to sign their books! I hope you stop by and say hello! So bring your mask and stay safe!

12/14/2020

Holiday News from the Franconia Museum - https://mailchi.mp/2f9985eddd3b/uib03taen6

12/10/2020

Franconia Museum

LAST-MINUTE SHOPPING AT FRANCONIA MUSEUM DEC 21-24!
The Francinia Museum will be open extra hours Christmas week so you can pick up items about your hometown for other Franconians on your list. The Museum will be open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, the doors will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Our books about the history of Franconia people and places are only $10 each. Also have Franconia Museum caps, book bags and note cards. Don Hakenson, Nathaniel Lee and Carl Sell also will be on hand to sell and sign their books.
Copies of the latest Franconia Museum newsletter, which includes and 8-page section about the late Lee District Supervisor Joe Alexander also will be available for $5. (Members get the newsletter free).
Cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted. If you can't make it to the Museum, order online at Franconiamuseum.org. Go to the e-page, make your selections and pay online. We'll fill your order just as soon as we can.

12/02/2020

The Historic Sites Volunteer Corps is looking for volunteers to help with a landscape clean-up at the Olander and Margaret Banks Neighborhood Park on Saturday, December 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please contact Ed Ehlers at 703-475-2268. Parking is very limited at 7400 Old Telegraph Road, Alexandria, VA 22315.

10/22/2020

Joe Alexander's wife, Davie, has donated a number of his treasured mementoes to the Franconia Museum. Joe was a valued supporter of the museum while he was alive, often serving as a volunteer docent. His memory now graces our displays. Visit to see more.

09/14/2020

Linwood Alexander Welch - View Obituary & Service Information

Rest in Peace Sir.

Share Memories and Support the Family.

09/14/2020

Local Lore and More at the Franconia Museum - The Zebra

VIDEO and STORY: Step inside the one-room Franconia Museum and learn more about this historically-rich area south of Alexandria City. Special thanks to reporter/videographer Michael P. Salmon on assignment for Zebra on this one.

For all the historical events that took place in Franconia, you can bet there is something about them in the Franconia Museum. The one-room

09/14/2020

Local Lore and More at the Franconia Museum - The Zebra

Local Lore and More at the Franconia Museum - The Zebra

For all the historical events that took place in Franconia, you can bet there is something about them in the Franconia Museum. The one-room

09/01/2020

JOSEPH ALEXANDER 1929 - 2020 - Obituary

Rest in peace Joe.

View JOSEPH ALEXANDER's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.

08/31/2020

PASSING OF JOE ALEXANDER

The Franconia Museum is deeply saddened by the death of Joe Alexander, a Founding Friend, supporter and volunteer at the Museum in the government center on Franconia Road. He died at his home on Craft Road on Sunday, August 30, after returning there from a long stay in the hospital. Joe was the Lee District member of the Board of Supervisors for 31 years and is responsible for most of the modern facilities we enjoy today. Yet, he never forgot about the past and always worked to make things better, not just change for change sake. It's hard to imagine that when he became Supervisor that most of Franconia depended on well water and septic fields, the roads were narrow and it was a long way to the bank and a major grocery store. Now, we depend without a second thought on the excellent services he created. Joe was a Franconia Boy through and through, and we are all the better for it, even if you never knew him.

Condolences to Joe's wife, Davie, and his daughters Cathi and Cheri and Cheri's daughter, Stephanie. They lit up his life!

08/26/2020

Come on out and visit the Franconia Museum where you can view our new history panels of Betty Cannon, actress Amelita Ward, as well as NFL veteran Pat Toomay of the Edison Eagles are all on display in the hallway.They are all Francinians.

The Government Center is open, 6121 Franconia Road. Many others also on display with more inside the Museum, which is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Masks and social Distancing required until further notice on the door.

03/15/2020

The Museum has a new sign in front of the Governmental Center that illuminates at night. Check it out as you drive by!

03/12/2020

Franconia Museum will hold an Open House between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at its headquarters in the Franconia Government Center on Saturday, May 16, 2020. The government center is located at 6121 Franconia Road. There will be displays in the community room across from the Museum as well as music by Charlie Wood and Terry Lee. Featured will be a replica of Fitzgerald's Store and displays from Laurel Grove School and Nalls Produce as well as one about the railroad that helps define local history. Samples of nostalgic food items will be given out. Food items will not be on sale. Tea and water will be available. Heading up the program will be appearances by Freddie/Frankie Franconia, the Museum's new mascot. The mascot will pose for pictures with youngsters of all ages but will take breaks between appearances in the community room. If you are a Franconian, or wish to learn more about our historic community, put this event on your must do list

01/22/2020

Help protect the community you cherish. Become a member of the Franconia Museum today.

02/07/2019

Franconia Museum's cover photo

12/19/2018

CHRISTMAS HOURS FOR BOOK SALES AT FRANCONIA MUSEUM! The Museum will be open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 18 through Friday, December 21 for sales of Museum books and books by members Don Hakenson, Nathaniel Lee and Carl Sell. Cash or credit cards accepted! Museum book bags available to carry home your gifts. Don Hakenson will be there to personally autograph copies about John Singleton Mosby.and the popular "This Forgotten Land" about the history of the Franconia area. Nathaniel Lee's "Iron Road of Franconia" about the railroad that runs through the community also will be available. Carl Sell writes about his ancestors and Jeb Stuart in the Civil War and activities at Snickers Gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains. All of the Museum's Franconia Remembers series will be available. The Museum books provide a home-town look at the people who created the community we enjoy today.

12/01/2018

If you enjoy shopping with Amazon and love our museum, then you will definitely love AmazonSmile! The concept is simple: for every purchase you make using AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate a percentage of that to us. No extra fees and the same purchase price you would get on Amazon.com. How cool is that?!

11/22/2018

Make the Franconia Museum your AmazonSmile charity and a portion of your online purchases get donated to help support our preservation efforts at smile.amazon.com/ch/32-0003852

11/18/2018

You missed a good time if you didn’t make it.

Great day today at Franconia Museum’s 17th Annual History Day! Lots of stories shared about some of Franconia’s very own residents who served in WWI. We also unveiled an informative new historical brochure that showcases notable locations in Lee District.

11/18/2018

Here is the program of events for History Day!

11/11/2018

Come out to have Charlie Wood and Terry Lee Ryan of the Mount Calvary Singers put a song in your heart at Franconia's WWI History Day at the Franconia Firehouse on Beulah Street! Sunday, November 18, from 12-4pm!

11/06/2018

The Franconia Museum will be observing the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War 1 as the theme of this year's Franconia History Day. When I read about the plans for the day I noticed that the unit they were describing sounded very familiar to me. Sure enough I have an Alexandria ancestor that was killed France on October 25, 1918, and he was assigned to Company F, 116th Infantry Regiment, of the 29th Infantry Division. His name was Lee B. Magner, my great-great uncle, my Great Grandmother's half brother. So I pulled some photos from my archives and have loaded them here to honor him. He was not from Franconia, but during his short lifetime he lived in DC, Alexandria and Fairfax County in a little community called Sideburn near Fairfax Station.

11/04/2018

The Franconia Museum honors those men of Fairfax County who served their country in the Great War.

10/24/2018

Franconia Museum's cover photo

10/22/2018

Franconia Museum's cover photo

10/11/2018

Stoney Coppage just became the 1000th person to like the Franconia Museum page. I can't think of a person with more Franconia roots than Stoney. He went to Franconia Elementary School and was an outstanding athlete at Edison in the class of 1972. He lived right in the heart of Franconia, at the corner of Franconia Road and Valley View Drive, next to Franconia Hardware. I remember watching at least one Franconia Fire Department Labor Day Parade from his front yard in the 1960s.

09/27/2018

Franconia Museum's cover photo

09/07/2018

Franconia Museum's cover photo

08/17/2018

The Franconia Museum would like to speak to someone with 3-D printing capability. Please contact our museum at [email protected] if you have information.

07/30/2018

Support Franconia Museum Inc by shopping at AmazonSmile.

Support continued preservation and education efforts in Franconia every time you make a purchase online! It's simple with Amazon Smile!

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Franconia Museum Inc. Support us every time you shop.